The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday said two relief flights will be sent to Burma on Saturday, just hours after suspending flights due to ”unacceptable restrictions” by the government.
”The WFP has decided to send in two relief flights as planned tomorrow, while discussions continue with the government of Burma on the distribution of the food that was flown in today, and not released to WFP,” Nancy Roman, WFP director of public policy and communications, said.
She added that enough high-energy biscuits to feed 21 000 people, which were airlifted on Thursday, have been delivered over the last 24 hours to some of the worst-hit areas.
Earlier on Friday, the WFP suspended aid flights into Burma because of ”unacceptable” restrictions imposed by the country’s military rulers.
”Two flights landed this morning [Friday] with food, which has not been taken out yet,” Burma country director Chris Kaye said in Rangoon, without specifying why the supplies had not been unloaded.
Burma has maintained strict limits on foreign involvement in the relief effort, despite calls for it to allow unfettered access to experts whose skills are vital for an effective response.
The regime said it was not ready to let in foreign aid workers, and although it needed supplies for the survivors of the cyclone, it would handle the distribution itself. — AFP
